Magnetic top roll mounting system



Aug. 6, 1968 K. P. SWANSON MAGNETIC TOP ROLL MOUNTING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1967 FIG.

FIG. 2

JNVENTOR.

KENNETH P. SWANSON ATTORNEYS 193 marc 27,; 19:67

1 j swA NsbN 3 32 ,QREENNETH R swANS N' BY I ATTORNEYSKQ United States Patent 3,395,427 MAGNETIC T01 ROLL MOUNTING SYSTEM Kenneth P. Swanson, Abington, Mass., assignor to Progressive Engineering, Inc, Rockland, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 515,842, Dec. 23, 1965. This application Mar. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 632,878

11 Claims. (Cl. 19272) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In association with the drafting rolls of a spinning or roving frame there are provided a saddle and bracket, one being adapted to slip over the arbor of a top roll and the other being mounted on the corresponding bottom roll. The saddle includes magnet means which attract a ferromagnetic portion of the bracket with a force adequate to insure proper drafting. Aligning means insure that the bracket and saddle hold the drafting rolls in proper relation.

My invention relates to textile machinery and in particular to top rolls employed on spinning and roving frames. This application is a continuation-impart of my copending US. patent application Ser. No. 515,842 filed Dec. 23, 1965, now abandoned.

Background of the invention In a spinning frame there is conventionally provided an arrangement of three parallel bottom rolls arranged to be driven through appropriate gearing. Bearing upon each bottom roll is a top roll driven by the corresponding bottom roll. Roving or sliver is fed into the nip of the back top and bottom rolls, then between the middle rolls and finally between the front rolls. Since the front top and bottom rolls rotate faster than the other pairs, the sliver or roving is drawn out and reduced in diameter.

In order that the sets of rolls may operate effectively it is necessary to press each top roll downwardly into firm engagement with its bottom roll. For generations the top rolls were forced downwardly by Weights suspended from top arms arranged to bear on the top rolls. More recently top and bottom rolls have been equipped with magnets, the purpose being to eliminate top arms and weights and utilize magnetic attraction as the means of weighting the top rolls. See, for example, the patent to Burnham No. 2,868,940. However, in such systems it has been necessary to incorporate magnets into the rolls themselves, and that not only increases the cost of the top or bottom rolls per se, but also introduces complications in maintenance. For example, it has not been possible to buff worn cots, and the installation of new cots has required that the top rolls be de-magnetized upon removal from the frame and then re-magnetized after new cots have been installed.

Summary of the invention The invention is directed to a magnetic top roll mounting system by means of which conventional top rolls can, without significant modification, be magnetically mounted in position and weighted.

An important feature of the invention resides in a saddle and bracket, one being adapted to slip over the arbor of a top roll and cooperate with the other mounted on the corresponding bottom roll, the saddle including a magnet or magnets, and aligning means being provided to cause the saddle and bracket to be brought into proper relation and held together with a force equal or greater than that applied by conventional weighting means. While Cir the term saddle is frequently used in the art to denote a locating element for top rolls, it is used in this description to refer to a locating element which includes a mag net, Whether associated with top rolls or bottom rolls.

The primary advantage of a top roll mounting system built in accordance with the invention is the fact that top and bottom rolls of conventional form are employed. Moreover the top rolls may be dismounted or replaced in seconds.

These and other objects and features of the invention will more readily be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken away view, in front elevation, of the top and bottom rolls of a spinning frame and illustrating the relation thereof to the saddle and bracket in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in cross section along the line 22 of FIG. 1, the front saddle being broken away to more clearly illustrate the cooperation between the magnet, aligning pins, and top roll bracket, with one of the aligning pins removed to further illustrate the manner in which the bracket rests atop the upper leg portions of the magnet,

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the magnet and end plates,

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of a modified form,

FIG. 5 is a view partly in cross-section and partly in elevation of an assembly of three top and bottom rolls and associated mounting members, and

FIG. 6 is a view in cross-section. along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

The invention has to do with the mounting and weighting of top rolls and is adapted for use on conventional spinning and roving frames. Therefore it has been deemed unnecessary to include conventional frame and roll structures in the drawings. It is to be understood that the top roll mounting system of the invention may be associated with the usual arrangement of drawing rolls in which there are customarily arranged three driven bottom rolls and three top rolls superposed upon the bottom rolls, as generally illustrated in my prior Patent No. 3,003,196 dated Oct. 10, 1961, by way of example with or without cradle structure of the general sort disclosed in my prior Patent No. 3,129,467 dated Apr. 21, 1964, also by Way of example. Since the cradle and apron structure are conventional, they have been omitted from the drawing and description.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 there are provided three bottom rolls, a back bottom roll 10, a middle bottom roll 12, and a front bottom roll 14. These rolls are rotated in timed relation, through conventional gearing, by any suitable driving means. Over each bottom roll there is mounted a top roll, best shown at 16 in FIG. 1. The structure of the top roll per se forms no part of this invention and can be any of the top rolls commercially available. By way of example, a suitable top roll is shown in my prior Patent Reissue No. 24,687 dated Aug. 18, 1959. Generally such rolls include a shaft or anbor 18 at each end of which there is a shell mounted on ball bearings and supported resilient, cylindrical cots as indicated at 20 and 22 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the arbor 18 is provided with a spacer sleeve 19 of conventional form. The middle top roll 32 and the back top roll 34 are shown as identical with the front top roll 16 and their cots are indicated at 28 and .30.

Associated with each bottom roll there is a saddle member including a magnet 40, best shown in FIG. 3, as being of generally U-shaped form and provided with opposed notches 42 in the upper leg portions. At each end of the magnet 40 there is an end plate 44 disposed in 3. face to face relation with the end surface of the magnet and of the same contour except that the legs of the U extend upwardly beyond the plane of the upper surface of the magnet 40 (see FIG. 1).

It is necessary, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, that the bottom rolls 10, 12 and 14 are made of non-magnetic material, so that the flux pattern established by the magnet 40 will be concentrated at the upper end surface of the end plates, rather than being diverted through the bottom rolls and eifectively short-circuited.

A pair of pins 50 of non-magnetic material such as stainless steel, have their lower ends seated in the notches 42 of the magnet 40. The assembly of magnet, end plates, and pins is encapsulated in a plastic 46, preferably by moulding the plastic 46 about the assembled metal parts to form a saddle member. The plastic which covers the inner wall of the magnet, as shown at 47, serves as a bearing mounting the saddle assembly on the bottom roll. As an alternative, the plastic bearing portion 47 may be a separate piece capable of replacement when it has been Worn. Nylon has been used successfully, but there are other kinds of moldable resins and the like which those skilled in the art will recognize as being suitable for the purpose. The mold is constructed so that in addition to encapsulating the magnet, end plates, and pins, there is formed a pair of integral, resilient clips 48 of arcuate contour dimensioned to fit over one of the bottom rolls, the arc of the clip extending more than 180 so that the clip may be snapped snugly in place about a bottom roll. At the bottom of each plastic member 46 there is an integrally molded lug 52 having a bore therethrough. When two or more of these saddles, or body members, have been snapped in place upon adjacent bottom rolls, an aligning rod 54 may be pushed through the bores of the lugs 52 and thereby fix the assemblies in aligned relation. It will be seen that the saddles or magnet assemblies are individually mounted on the bottom rolls. It is contemplated that there be provided a series of rods 54 of various lengths so that the system may accommodate various spacings between the adjacent bottom rolls. That is to say, the system is self-adjusting insofar as bottom roll spacing is concerned.

As best shown in FIG. 2 there is provided for each top roll a bracket member 60 of ferromagnetic metal formed in the shape of an inverted U with integrally outwardly extending bottom flanges provided with holes to receive the upper portions of the pins 50. The bracket 60 is dimensioned snugly to embrace the central portion of the sleeve 19 on the arbor 18 and also dimensioned so that the flanges of the bracket come in contact with the upper surfaces of the end plates 44. In that fashion a magnetic circuit is established which includes the magnets, the end plates, and the bracket. The magnetic flux is concentrated in the relatively small cross section of the upwardly extending portions of the end plates. It will be understood that the nonmagnetic character of the bottom rolls avoids diversion of the flux pattern. The flanges of the bracket are very strongly attnacted to the end plates and the magnetic force holding the parts together is much greater than would be the case if the flux were distributed over greater areas.

It should also be noted that the usual bosses are shown on the bottom rolls, at 24 and 26; they cooperate in conventional fashion with the top roll cots.

The operation of a frame equipped with the magnetic top roll mounting system of my invention is entirely conventional. The silver or roving is lead through the usual trumpet to the nip of the back bottom and top rolls and thence between the middle and front rolls. In the event of a lap-up, the top roll on which the lap-up occurs can yield upwardly, the bracket 60 sliding up on the pins 50; there is no possibility of breaking any of the elements involved. Moreover, the operation of piecing-up is extremely simple, since it is merely necessary to introduce the end of the yarn into the nip of the appropriate top and bottom rolls, the nips being accessible from the ends. This is in contrast to what is required in a system such as disclosed in the previously identified Burnham patent, in which the top rolls are mounted in cap bars which render the nips of the rolls inaccessible from the ends thereof. In the latter system the operation of piecing-up requires a highly developed skill.

To equip a frame with top rolls in accordance with my invention, it is merely necessary to snap the bottom saddles in place on the bottom rolls and then insert the aligning rod 54. One then takes a conventional top roll and slips the bracket 60 over the arbor; then the top roll in the bracket is mounted on the aligning pins 50. The magnetic circuit is immediately established, and the top roll is held firmly in proper position. When it is necessary to remove a top roll for cleaning or for buffing of the cots, one merely has to lift the top roll with its bracket, overcoming the magnetic force, and removing the top roll and bracket from the frame. If another top roll is at hand, it is only necessary to slip the removed top roll from the embrace of the bracket and slip the bracket over the new top roll and then mount it on the aligning pins 50. It will be observed that these operations can easily be accomplished in a matter of seconds. Since the magnets are not contained either in the bottom or the top rolls, these rolls are no heavier than conventional rolls, and their structures are relatively simple and uncomplicated. When top rolls are employed which have magnets incorporated in their structure, they must, for practical reasons, be tie-magnetized when removed from the spinning or roving frame. However, the rolls served by the system of my invention do not become magnetized and require no special treatment of any kind.

The top roll mounting system described in the foregoing paragraphs is organized about a magnet contained in a saddle associated with the bottom rolls. Alternatively, the saddle and magnet can be associated with the top rolls, which should then be made of non-magnetic material to prevent diversion of the flux pattern. The magnetic characteristics of the bottom roll material would no longer be critical. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6 the magnets are associated with the saddles mounted on the top rolls. In this case, it is not essential that the top rolls be made of non-magnetic material, as they will not interfere greatly with the flux paths.

As before, there are provided the customary back, middle and front bottom rolls, 66, 68 and 70, respectively. Snapped over each bottom roll is a molded nylon bearing member 72, each bearing being generally U-shaped and having an inner arcuate recess extending over an arc of substantially more than 180 in order to provide secure engagement. The bearings flex during the mounting operation until they are seated in position upon the bottom rolls. Spanning the bottom rolls is a plate 76 of ferromagnetic metal secured by screws 78 to the upper surfaces of the three bearings 72. Overlying the ferromagnetic plate 76 and secured thereto is a thin fiat plate 80 of brass, aluminum, or other non-magnetic metal. The bearings and plates form a bracket cooperating with an assembly of top rolls and saddles now to be described.

Three top rolls 84 overlie the bottom rolls and are entirely conventional in structure except that their arbors 86 are provided with plastic sleeves or brushings 90 of square cross-section. Again, nylon is a satisfactory material. A magnet 92, of block form, is disposed to lie against each side of the sleeve, and the pair of magnets is contained within a casing 94 of light non-ferrous metal. On top of the casing 94 is a plastic block 96 to which a pair of ferrous end plates 98 is secured by screws 100. Each assembly of a pair of magnets 92, a casing 94, a block 96, and a pair of plates 98 comprises a saddle for one of the top rolls 84. The end plates lie flat against opposite ends, or pole faces, of the magnets 92 and have downwardly extending legs which traverse notches 82 cut in the non-ferrous plate 80. The lower ends of the end 3 plates come in contact with the ferromagnetic plate 76, thus establishing a magnetic circuit through the magnets 92, the end plates 98, and the bracket. The notches 82 cooperate with the lower ends of the end plates 98 to establish the correct position of the saddle, magnet assembly, and top rolls with respect to the bottom rolls. With respect to each top roll the alignment is determined by the engagement of four end plates with the notched non-magnetic plate 80.

Because the casing 94 and the block 96 are both of nonmagnetic material, as is the material of the arbor sleeve 90, the path of the magnetic flux is limited (in the saddle) to the end or pole plates 98. If the casing, block or sleeve were of ferrous material, there would be a short circuit nullifying or at least greatly diminishing the flux passing through the legs of the end plates 98 into the ferrous plate 76.

Threaded through each block 96 is an adjusting screw 102 having a knurled head 104 and bearing at its lower end upon the top of the plastic sleeve 90. The assembly of the magnets 92, casing 94, the block 96, and end plates 98 forms a saddle slidably engageable With the sleeve 90 on the arbor 86. Magnetic attraction forces the magnetized saddles into engagement with the ferromagnetic plate 76, and the screws 102 urge the top rolls 84 toward the bottom rolls, thus pressing the top roll cots 88 into firm engagement with corresponding bottom roll bosses 74.

The screws 102 provide means for adjusting the pressure of the top roll cots upon the bottom roll bosses. When a screw is backed off, the pressure is decreased. Thus the weighting of each individual top roll can be varied, an important feature in the drawing of certain types of fibres which, as those skilled in the art well know, require critical top roll weighting for the production of acceptable yarns. The adjustment is also useful in compensating for the Wearing of the costs.

While in both embodiments herein shown and described the lower portion of the top roll mounting system is mounted on the bottom rolls, it will readily be understood that they could take the form of brackets mounted on roll stands, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Also, the top roll could be permanently secured to a bracket or saddle associated therewith, although it is believed preferable that they be releasably engaged therewith.

Those skilled in the art will readily understand and appreciate that although I have descrbied and illustrated the best modes I know for carrying out the concept of my invention, there are many variations in design which may be developed without departing from the principles of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A magnetic mounting system for a top roll having an arbor and associated with a bottom roll, comprising a saddle member including magnet means, a bracket member having at least a portion of ferromagnetic material, one of said members being engageable with said bottom roll and the other being detachably engageable with the arbor of said top roll, said members including aligning means for maintaining them in predetermined alignment, said magnet means cooperating with said ferromagnetic portion of said bracket member to hold said members in contact for rotatably mounting the top roll in peripheral pressure engagement with the bottom roll.

2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said saddle member further includes ferromagnetic end plates in contact with said magnetic means and projecting beyond the magnet means into contact with said bracket member.

3. The system defined in claim 2, in which said aligning means comprises an aligning pin secured in one of said members and adapted to engage a hole formed in the other of said members.

4. The system defined in claim 2, in which said ferromagnetic portion of said bracket member comprises a plate spanning said end plates for contact therewith.

5. The system defined in claim 2, in which said bracket member includes a plate having notches for receiving and locating said end plates to align said bracket and saddle members.

6. A magnetic mounting system for top rolls having arbors and cooperating with bottom rolls, comprising a set of saddle members each including magnet means, a set of bracket members each having at least a portion of ferromagnetic material, one of said sets of members being engageable one with each of said bottom rolls, the other of said sets of members being detachably engageable one with each of the arbors of said top rolls, means connected with each of said one set of members to maintain them in predetermined alignment with one another, said magnet means cooperating with said ferromagnetic portions of said bracket members to hold each of said one set of members in mutual contact with a corresponding one of said other set of members.

7. The system defined in claim 6, in which said members include further aligning means for maintaining each of said one set of members in predetermined alignment with said corresponding one of said other set of members.

8. A magnetic mounting system for top rolls associated with bottom rolls, comprising a ferromagnetic member mounted in fixed position upon a bottom roll, a pair of magnets disposed in spaced array, ferromagnetic end plates spanning the ends of said magnets and projecting therefrom, and means associated with said magnets for engaging the arbor of a top roll, the projecting portions of said end plates being adapted to engage said member, whereby the magnets, plates and top roll are held in fixed relation to said member by magnetic attraction.

9. Magnetically weighted top roll structure, for use with a bottom roll, comprising a ferromagnetic first plate, means for mounting said first plate in fixed position upon the bottom roll; a top roll including an arbor and rotating cots, a sleeve of non-ferrous material disposed upon said arbor, a pair of magnets disposed in spaced relation adjacent said sleeve, ferromagnetic end plates disposed transversely to said sleeve and mounted in contact with the ends of said magnets, said end plates having leg portions extending beyond said magnets, a non-magnetic member disposed on said first plate and covering it except in areas dimensioned to fit said leg portions, whereby the leg portions may be disposed upon said first plate and held in position by magnetic attraction, non-magnetic means joining the upper portions of said end plates, and an adjusting member carried in said non-magnetic means and movable to bear more or less heavily upon said sleeve.

10. The structure defined in claim 9, wherein the assembly of magnets and end plates slidably engages the sleeve.

11. Drafting roll apparatus comprising a top roll, a bottom roll, a saddle member including magnet means, a bracket member having at least a portion of ferromagnetic material, one of said members being engageable with said bottom roll and the other being engageable with said top roll, that one of said rolls which is engageable with said saddle member being formed of nonmagnetic material, said members including aligning means for maintaining them in predetermined alignment, said magnet means cooperating with said ferromagnetic portion of said bracket member to hold said members in contact for rotatably mounting said top roll in peripheral pressure engagement with said bottom roll.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 398,561 7/1924 Germany.

MERV IN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DORSEY NEWTON, Assistant Examiner. 

